Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
Edmunds Introduces q Bill In the
Senate to Protect American Fish.
ermen in Canadian Waters.
he House Debating the Inter State Com
merce BilI-Another st. Louis
Bridge Bill Passed.
XLIN CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Ed
munds from the committee on foreign re
lations reported bill to authorize the
president of the United States to protect
and defend the rights of American fishing
vessels, American fishermen and Ameri-
cans trading on other vessels in certain
cases and for other purposes. He gave
notice that as soon as the bill and report
were printed so that senators could ex-
anime them he should ask the senate to
take up the bill and proceed with it and
dispose of it at the earliest possible day.
Senator Hampton 10y request intro
duCed bill to promote the efficiency
of the civil service of the government by
the establishment of retired list. Re-
ferred.
Senators Plumb, Teller and Walthall
were appointed conference committee
on the bill for the forfeiture Of the Back
bone Railroad grant passed Yesterday.
The presiding officer presented the re-
Spouse of the secretary of the treasury to
the resolution relative to the Indebtedness
OF subsidized Pacific railroads. Referred
without reading to the Judiciary commit
tee.
NJu uuOIlOH VI DCudlOL CSI luC SSAolS
bill authorizing the construction of q
bridge over the Mississippi river at or
near St. Louis, between the Eads bridge
and the mouth of the Missouri river, was
taken up.
Several amendments were reported to
it, and after debate it was passed.
On motion of Senator Hampton, and
after speeches by Senators Hoar and
Conger. the senate bill appropristing
$4,000 to expedite the completion of
the Charleston jetties (the appropriation
TO be available imme diately) was passed.
Senator Edmonds presented report
from the committee on foreign relations
on the subject of the fisheries. Ordered
printed, and after executive session the
senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l9.-After unim-
portant proceedings and the conclusion
of the morning hour the house resumed
consideration of the conference report on
the interstate commerce bill.
Mr.. Durham of Illinois, addressing
him self 10 the long and short haul sec
ton of the bill, expressed his inability to
understand its meaning and his disbelief
that anybody else understood
it. It's Interpretation would have
to be left to the courts. The
railroads had been guilty of
unjust discrimination and abuse, and it
was proper legislation should prevent it,
but in order to do it it was not neces-
sary to pass q law that would tend to
cripple the roads. This bill was better
than nothing and while he thought it
was inconsistent in places in the absence
of anything better he would vote for it,
Mr.. Bynum of Indiana would vote
Tor the bill, but with some misgivings.
eIMr. Guenther Of Wisconsin Congratu-
la.ed the people that at last congress was
about to pass an Interstate commerce
bill. Its passage would inspire
them with renewed confidence
IN their representatives in congress.
Year after year railroad magnates,
through their agents and lobbyists, had
defeated all Interstate commerce legisla-
ton, but the day of Judgment was about
to arrive. Tie passage of this bill would
be the greatest triumph the public had
achieved for many years.
Mr.. Nelson of Minnesota favored the
measure, and said that by It's passage one
of the powerful weapons for extortion
and injustice would be completely
stopped.
Mr.. Weaver of Iowa opposed the bill.
he 0du supported lue hedSdH Ullly UuI
the bill now presented was substantially
the Cullom bill, which the house had once
refused to pass. The theory of the pend
ing bill was to do IS little for the people
as possible, and to render those sections
which related to the rights of the people
as obscure and unintelligiOIe as human
ing enuity could make them. The peo-
pie had been demanding the Reagan bill,
and they had been fed on ashes. They
had asked for an egg and were given
scorpion, which would sting them to
death.
Pending Mr.. Weaver's debate the mat
ter went over.
On motion of Mr.. Clardy of Missouri,
the Dill was passed authorizinG the con-
struction of bridge over the Mississippi
river at St. Louis.
Mr.. Cultivate of Ohio offered the fol-
lowing resolution, which was referred to
the committe on Pacific railroads:
Resolved, that the secretary of the
treasury be and he is hereby requested to
inform the house of representatives, as
soon as practicable, the sums OF money
which were owing to the United States on
the LIST day of January, 1887, from the
Pacific railroads that have received aid
from the government in bonds or lands,
giving the SuES which are due,
principal and interest under existing law
severally and collectively from said com
panies, and what will tie the result to the
treasury, and effect upon these debts if
house bill No. SS1S, the pending bill,
should become law and its provisions
be complied with.
After an Intellectual effort on the part of
Mr.. Crisp to obtain a night session for
debate on the conference report on the
inter state commerce bill, the house ad
iourned.